Monday, June 30, 2008

Samavayo, the heavy stoner rock band from Berlin, has released two new EPs - and White.

The material on the Black and White EPs were recorded and mixed by Kurt Ebelhäuser (Black Mail). Black shows the darker and heavier side of the band, whereas White is a teaser for the band`s forthcoming album, due in January 2009. In addition, Samavayo has included a video clip for the song "Neovenator" on White.

Black EP tracklist:

1. Bleed For You2. Through The Night3. Coz I Can´t4. So Long5. That Light (Extended Version)6. For You My Dear7. Ugoda (Extended Vesion)

White EP tracklist:

1. 5 Oh 2. Down 3. Telepathos 4. When It Comes To The Point Of No Return 5. Ain´t 6. Shitzoo

“A superb unstoppable juggernaut where the guitars are tar-thick and the grooves positively subterranean”– Kerrang! (UK)

Glowing reviews from around the globe for Into the Underground, plus airplay on radio and TV (including thrashings on Sports Tonight), have given the Winterun machine a full head of steam. Winterun will unleash their trademark heavy grooves on the Espy Front Bar on Saturday, July 5 in support of weathered rock dogs X and Bugdust, then at Pony on Friday, July 11 with A Process Of and Sons of Abraham. If you love your chunky riffs these are two gigs not be missed. For clips, tracks and info see www.myspace.com/winterun_band.

Blue Cheer is asking you to take part in their first official DVD, which will include a documentary extra.

We would like your thoughts and/or comments, good or bad, influences, if any, about Blue Cheer, on a separate short clip, done on video or dvd format. It can be just a 60 second clip or a minutes long.

Avante-garde Japanese black metallers Sigh will play their first UK show in 13 years during an exclusive performance at Damnation Festival. It will be the first time the entire line-up has ever played on British soil and they have promised to put a special show together for their patient fans. They will be joined by Aussie grind masters The Berzerker and Welsh sludge rockers Taint on the bill with the legendary Carcass.

Vocalist Mirai Kawashima, said, "We`re extremely excited to play at the Damnation Festival! The last time we toured the UK was in 1995 so it`s been 13 years! Back then we were a three-piece band so this is going to be the UK debut for Mikannibal and our drummer, Junichi. Get ready for the Eastern forces of evil!"

Damnation Festival director Gavin McInally added, "To host not one but two bands who haven`t graced our shores in over a decade is something truly special. We`re also delighted to add brutal death metallers The Berzerker and one of Britain`s finest emerging talents in Taint."

The almighty Boris is currently on tour in the Americas, supporting their most breakout record in the band`s monstrous, dynamic catalog, Smile. The praise of this release just does not stop flowing in... fans and critics of all realms of heavy/experimental/open-minded rock can`t get enough, as the band digs in on their most comprehensive North American tour to date.

Recently, Guitar World`s Metalkult.com posted live footage of the one-off NYC performance of this post-doom rock beast. Four live tracks that show some of what can be expected from this tour can be viewed here.

Waxy hails from Palm Desert California. The band is currently working on their second record and will feature among others guests from the first record (some on MySpace) John Garcia (Kyuss) Gary Arce (Yawning Man) and Ed Mundell (Monster Magnet).

Spanish heavy rockers Rhino have posted a rough-mix version of a new song, "Reins of the Warlord," on their MySpace page. The track comes off the group`s forthcoming second album, Dead Throne Monarch, due this summer via Arctic Music Group. 7th Gate Records and Odio Sonoro will make a very limited digipack edition of the new album that will be available only at the band`s gigs, through mail-order and selected stores. The artwork will be created by the ilustrator Rafael Garrés, who is currently working with DC Comics.

Rhino`s most recent CD, Breed the Chosen One (2007), will be released in North America via Arctic Music Group in January 2009.

Tuesday, June 24 was the release date for the much anticipated new CD from the New York City Gods of Sludge, Negative Reaction. Tales From the Insomniac is a dark journey into the sludge scarred world of Sir Ken E. Bones and Company. Simply put, this is Pure Raw Emotion. Fans of COC, Monster Magnet, Eyehategod, and Acid Bath will be drawn to this soon to be classic.

A video for lead off single "Wish To A Dream" is set to be shot in July and a fall tour with Maegashira is to follow.

Mexican doom rockers Maligno have posted an unmastered version of a new song, "The Red Witch," on their MySpace page. The track comes off the group`s forthcoming second album, Universevil, due this summer. The album its being mastered by Alan Douches (Mastodon, High on Fire, The Dillinger Escape Plan) and the cover art will be illustrated by Mala Suerte vocalist Gary Rosas.

Maligno was the support act on the Mexican leg of the Guns N` Roses 2007 world tour and also took part in the Mägo de Oz fest with Mägo de Oz, U.D.O., Warcry, and Cage.

Maligno`s self-titled (2006) debut album was released in Mexico through Asenath and Iguana Records.

Leading up to the September 16 release of its Seventh Rule Recordings debut, Intimacy, Light Yourself On Fire will bring its noise across the eastern US, on tour with Racebannon (Southern Records).

Hailing from Tampa, Florida, Light Yourself On Fire is fronted by Matt Coplon, vocalist for renowned hardcore band Reversal of Man. Light Yourself On Fire`s sound has been likened to Coalesce, Helmet, and Joy Division.

Intimacy was recorded and mixed by Mark Nikolich (Torche, Kylesa) and mastered by Scott Hull (Pig Destroyer, Nile). It will be available on CD and vinyl.

KINGDOM OF SORROW — the band featuring Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR) —has announced more U.S. tour dates in support of its self-titled debut album. The group will perform a number of shows throughout August as it joins the Rockstar Mayhem Tour in the Northeast, in addition to "off" dates with SCUM OF THE EARTH in the Midwest. KINGDOM OF SORROW has also been confirmed for Ozzfest 2008 alongside OZZY OSBOURNE, METALLICA, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SOILENT GREEN, and more. This year's Ozzfest will be a one-day event, set to take place on August 9 in Dallas, Texas.

The growing success of High on Fire has helped legitimize other bands wishing to pay homage to heavy metal's less refined but still historically important exponents of raw ferocity — and none do this with greater ferocity than Chicago's brilliantly named Lair of the Minotaur. Intentionally crude and lo-fi in its approach, the trio (which arose from the ashes of cult comedy-metal idols 7000 Dying Rats) follows in the paw prints of early thrash and black metal luminaries such as Venom, Bathory, and Hellhammer — bands whose very human deficiencies brought them down from the lofty pedestals of '70s dinosaur metal and helped endear them to young metalheads by giving them the confidence to start bands of their own. Those needing further clarification of this process need only look as far as album opener "Carnage Fucking Carnage," which finds vocalist Steven Rathbone doing his best Tom G. Warrior impression, while leading his bloodthirsty cohorts through a brutalizing sonic barrage owing much to Hellhammer and early Celtic Frost. So distorted and primal is their collision of guitar, bass, and drums, in fact, that it could very well double as the sound of bones being crushed upon a battlefield, and therefore provides a more than adequate backdrop for Lair of the Minotaur's lyrics, which are exclusively inspired by Greek mythology — how appropriate! Though they never amount to just one concept album-like thread, ancient legends invariably populate ensuing standouts like the frantically thrashing "The Wolf," the devastatingly heavy "Lion Killer," the amazingly violent "Warlord," and the two-faceted "Demon Serpent" (see its anomalous synthesizer coda). On the downside, the album is also authentic in its limitations, with the formula starting to wear a little thin on rather average (if still spectacularly named) offerings like "Caravan of Blood Soaked Kentauroi," "Enemy of Gods," and parts of the exceptionally doomy "Burning Temple." Hardly a perfect first outing, in other words, but to those metal heads wishing to relive their impressionable teenage innocence for just a few seconds once again, Carnage is a roaring success. (Eduardo Rivadavia & Tara Koetsã, All Music Guide)

Sunday, June 29, 2008

"You might think that after playing in bands for over a decade and ahalf, touring constantly in shitty vans to small towns you've neverheard of, might instill the desire to make your new project, I don'tknow, a lucrative one. Molding their creative output to somethingthat sells, for whatever reason, never really crossed the minds of thefour members of Quest For Fire, however. The sonic assault thatthese guys unleash onto unsuspecting listeners in a live settingthrough their sometimes 10+ minute journeys can either send thefaint of heart running, holding onto their hats, or lift their mindsand souls to levels normally only achieved by ingesting far too manyillegal substances that we here at Storyboard know nothing about.Fortunately for all of us, the majority falls into the latter.The band, made up of Andrew Moszynski (guitar), Chad Ross(guitar, vocals), Mike Maxymuik (drums), and Josh Bauman (bass),had spent a little over a year holed up in a small practice space nearToronto's heavily industrialized lakeshore, quietly refining theirvision while their other bands toured incessantly and disintegratedslowly. Upon the inevitable demise of Canada's most beloved garagerock underdogs, The Deadly Snakes, of which Andrew and Chadwere core members, Quest For Fire began to prepare for their greatunveiling before Toronto's unwary rock scene. Mike, however, wasknee deep in the production of the gargantuan third full length fromhis band Cursed, of which he'd been a member of since itsinception in 2001. They started things off slowly if not loudly. On ahot August night in 2007 the band made their first appearance at 'theBoat', one of Toronto's most cherished dive bars located inKensington Market. Escorted to and from the show in a friendssuped-up 1960's black hearse, Quest For Fire had simply stated that,like old man Death himself, they were not taking any prisoners. Fromthat point on word spread like, well, wild fire. They quickly becamethe city's most sought-after and mysterious new bands. Show offerscame flooding in to open for high profile acts such as BlackMountain, Ladyhawk, Eric's Trip, Attack In Black, and PrideTiger at their Halloween hell-raiser at the Horseshoe Tavern. Theirthunderous sonic blitzkrieg was a little much for the Montreal PoliceDepartment to handle, however, resulting in their debut at the PopFestival getting shut down, fortunately not before having alreadydelivered a jaw-dropping and mind altering performance.With the untimely death of Cursed after a nightmarish Europeantour in May of 2008, severing Mike from any other musicalcommitments, and with their new album being released on July 15th,nearly one year following their first performance, Quest For Firehave proven that they are ready and willing to more than fill theshoes of past bands, and forge ahead as one of Canada's next rock nroll overlords."

Track Listing:

01. Bison Eyes (4:05) (MP3)02. Strange Waves (7:36)03. Hawk That Hunts The Walking (8:44)04. I've Been Trying To Leave (6:16)05. You Are Always Loved (7:23)06. Next To The Fire (9:09)

With their ambitious debut album, 2006's The Call of the Wretched Sea, Germany's tellingly named Ahab embark on a treacherous voyage to reinterpret Herman Melville's immortal whaling adventure, Moby Dick, through the suitably equivalent sonic leviathan of funereal doom metal -- or, as they are eager to dub it themselves: "Nautik Funeral Doom." Of course one need only look back a couple of years to find Mastodon's more oblique treatise on the very same literary subject, via their own Leviathan album; but what Ahab lacks in outright originality, they handily make up for with The Call of the Wretched Sea's meticulously assembled husks of words and music (plus, in terms of pure heaviness, this leviathan makes Mastodon's sound as light as a sparrow!). The titanic tandem of "Below the Sun" and "The Pacific" steers listeners away from port, and casts them directly down into the darkest ocean abyss with slothful, somber synthesizer melodies, cataclysmic downtuned guitar waves, and echoing percussive thunders. These provide a formidable frame for lyrics frequently adapted directly from Melville's writings and delivered in an impossibly deep, guttural vocal style that sounds as though it was performed by Moby Dick himself -- har-har! But it's surprisingly clean-droned baritones substituting these rumblings on "Old Thunder," which features an unusually uplifting, orchestrated central portion, bridged by an atmospheric interlude called "Of the Monstrous Pictures of Whales" to yet another colossal epic in "The Sermon," itself boasting a shimmering central passage of near-silent melodic ripples that temporarily interrupt the album's prevalent, monolithic guitar grinds. The Call of the Wretched Sea subsequently achieves a dual climax via "The Hunt" and "Ahab's Oath," both of which are marked by keening, rather infectious melodies, but which still leave the listener feeling as if crushed under the pressure untold fathoms. What's more, their words reveal that Ahab's musical retelling of Moby Dick is only just begun here, with a lot more story from the novel's original argument yet to be set to music on ensuing albums. If and when that comes to pass, Ahab will have their work cut out for them, because The Call of the Wretched Sea has set the funereal doom bar especially high -- or low, as it were. (Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide)

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Seattle's BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL and Minnesota's CELESTIIAL have joined forces on the debut vinyl release from Bindrune Recordings. This conceptual union of like-minded musicians is a rare find in this day and age, but BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL and CELESTIIAL have again assembled beneath the Bindrune banner to explore the very core of their being through ritualistic transcendence. While embracing metal as a loose framework, both artists shed the confines of "tradition" to step into the ever-expansive world of atmosphere. Be it the Shamanic union with the spirit world and nature through the hypnotic rituals of BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL, or the woodland exploration of CELESTIIAL by way of environmental soundscapes and a moss-laden drone, this split LP is unlike anything you have yet heard. Both bands are reinventing the way that you experience and "feel" music.

The tracks:

* BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL - "Contemplating the Death of an Old Friend" (17:05)* CELESTIIAL - "White Depths Dove the Red-Eyed" (16:54)

The specs:

* Mastered by Mel Detmer* 180g virgin black vinyl with a printed insert. 350g jacket stock.* Pressing is limited to 500 pieces. When they are gone... they are gone.* Both tracks are exclusive to this release only. So you'll never see them released on CD, or any other format.* The first 50 orders of this release will receive two cloth (silkscreen) patches as promotional incentive... one for BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL, one for CELESTIIAL.

The Maryland-D.C. doom scene has been revered for years now, so it is not exactly a shock that the first full-length from Washington, D.C.'s WOOLY MAMMOTH is 54 minutes of doom heaviness and trippy stoner rock jamming. With songs that range from the righteously rocking to the mind altering, "The Temporary Nature" falls squarely into the "solid" category for the genre.

The aforementioned mix keeps things interesting throughout the disc and the trio moves like a well-oiled machine from the first note to the last. As I have no doubt alluded to in the past, it is a beautiful thing when a trio is able to squeeze every ounce of emotion out of its instruments and fill up every nook and cranny of audio space. Vocalist/guitarist Zac Eller combines his catchy and soulful singing with fat chords and amplifier-blowing solos, while Phil Adler (drums/percussion) and Kyle Connolly (bass/keys) create an earth-shaking bottom, yet still remain active throughout the disc.

It is the little things that often make the biggest impact, such as Connolly's buzzing bass line to open the rockin' "Liberasaur" or his four-string rumble that supports Eller's acid-soaked solo on the 11-minute "Mammoth Bones", which also features guest guitar from the almighty Wino. Even this lengthy track of plodding doom-crush and KYUSS-esque atmosphere is arranged in a way that makes it far more than an exercise in the art of drone. The chant-like vocals of the pounding title track and the acoustic psychedelia of instrumental "The Middle Way" are just two examples of the album's more sonically mind-expanding material. "Slow Love" is nine minutes of quintessential blues-based doom crawl, while the mid to up tempo "Black Spider, Red Spider" features a little FU MANCHU in the main melody and echoing space vocals (similar to the early work of MONSTER MAGNET's Dave Wyndorf). "Head Full of Collision" and "From Meridian Hill" are classic mid-tempo doom burners. The group does a nice job of shifting tempos for maximum effect as well.

"The Temporary Nature" offers the listener numerous opportunities to rock out and trip out. And WOOLY MAMMOTH rarely leaves melody out the equation, making "The Temporary Nature" more than just an album of huge riffs and chemically altered jams. Almost an 8. (Scott Alisoglu, Blabbermouth.net)

Friday, June 27, 2008

"MY DYING BRIDE would like to formally announce the new keyboardist/violinist, Katie Stone. We will have a full profile update and pictures as soon as the band has time from the gigs/studio work they are presently engaged in. Katie is also involved in the new studio album. More as we get it."

MY DYING BRIDE recently announced the extension of their partnership with Peaceville Records.

On signing the new deal, guitarist Andrew Craighan commented, "We've been with Peaceville since the release of our very first album way back in 1992 and it's a pleasure to announce that we'll continue working together for the coming future, as we feel there is a great understanding between ourselves and Peaceville moving forward, and both look forward to bringing more crushing doom your way soon."

MY DYING BRIDE is currently recording its highly anticipated follow-up to 2006's "A Line of Deathless Kings" with longtime producer Mags. A late 2008 release is expected.

Peaceville Records in April released MY DYING BRIDE's "An Ode to Woe", a two-disc live CD/DVD in digibook packaging.

The show — which was originally streamed on the online concert channel Fabchannel.com — was filmed at the world-famous Paradiso, Amsterdam, Holland, in April 2007. The legendary venue (previous performers include NICK CAVE, THE ROLLING STONES, NIRVANA and the SEX PISTOLS) provides the perfect setting for this special gig.

The band, including newest members Dan Mullins (drums) and bassist Lena Abé, alongside original members Aaron Stainthorpe and Andrew Craighan (the lineup completed by Hamish Glencross on guitars and Sarah Stanton on keyboards), storm through renditions of favorites from as far back as their 1992 debut "As the Flower Withers", right through to latest studio album, "A Line of Deathless Kings", and not forgetting the inclusion of timeless MDB classics like "The Cry of Mankind".

Laut.de has uploaded high-quality photos of MONSTER MAGNET's June 21, 2008 performance at the Southside Festival in Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany. Check them out at this location. A few additional pictures taken by Flickr user "chrys" can be found here. A short fan-filmed video clip can be viewed below.

MONSTER MAGNET's latest album, "4-Way Diablo", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 81. The CD, which was produced by Matt Hyde and features a cover version of THE ROLLING STONES' "2,000 Light Years from Home", previously landed on the Swedish chart at No. 51. The album sold 1,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

CROWBAR guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein has posted the following message on the band's official web site:

"Hey, rockers and rockettes. It's been a while since I made a post on here, but I feel it's time to let you know what's going on. I've got about eight songs' worth of riffs written so far and will be jamming with Tommy [Buckley, drums] and Pat [Patrick Bruders, bass] soon on these ideas.

"2009 will be the 20th anniversary of CROWBAR!!! We will be putting out a new CD and tour[ing] endlessly on this thing. I literally want to play every country that's got electricity!!!

"Believe me, CROWBAR is far from over. It will never die as long as I'm walking this Earth. So be prepared for the heaviest band in the world to destroy your senses very soon.

"As always, thanks to the legions of underground fans who have loyally supported us for the last 19 years. Year 20 will be the biggest yet."

Metal Mind Productions re-released three CROWBAR albums — "Crowbar" (1993), "Time Heals Nothing" (1995) and "Live+1" EP (1995) — in Europe on April 21. Each limited-edition digipack title (limited to 2,000 copies) was made available on golden disc, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology. The "Time Heals Nothing" album also contains six bonus tracks — four audio and two video.

CROWBAR's video for the song "Slave No More" can be viewed below. The clip was included on the band's DVD, "Live: With Full Force", which came out in North America in January 2007. Filmed at the popular German open-air festival of the same name, "Live: With Full Force" was captured on CROWBAR's world tour supporting their 2005 release "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden". The live performance DVD also includes candid backstage footage plus the band's second (and previously unavailable) promotional video for "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden" album track "Slave No More".

The Quill is a Swedish hard rock/metal act that combines the best of classic hard rock with alternative and metal. The group's influences come from across the spectrum, but some show up more obviously than others. First, it is easy to spot Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Give a listen to "Sell No Soul" for a quick example of those. They also chart into Led Zeppelin territory. Check out "(Wade Across) The Mighty River" and think Led Zeppelin III. All their influences are not so old-school, though. Indeed, tracks like "Until Earth Is Bitter Gone" showcase a Soundgarden sort of texture and "Overlord" screams Corrosion of Conformity. The group is being billed as "stoner rock," and it does exhibit healthy doses of that variant of the jam band sound, but that is certainly not the whole picture. The Hammond B-3 organ lends a great retro texture to this release, but much of the power and magic of the group comes from the incredible vocal talents of Magnus Ekvall, who really pulls it all together with style. It is not often that a band of this genre is elevated to greatness by the singing (Judas Priest comes to mind), but that is definitely the case with this one. The album shows a versatility and mastery of both songwriting and arranging that are not present in much hard rock these days. Let's hope these guys stay true and rocking for a long time, because they may become the hard rock legends of this era on which future bands are based. (Gary Hill, All Music Guide)

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Originally started as a side project by erstwhile Screaming Tree bassist Van Conner, Valis became a primary concern once the reluctant grunge band officially faded into (cough!) sweet oblivion, circa 1998. Come 2004, Valis delivered their third release, Head Full of Pills, for their third record company (Detroit's Small Stone -- the last indie label standing after the "great stoner rock collapse"), and perhaps the most surprising aspect about rambunctious, hook-laden opener "Welcome to Home School" is its crisp and crunchy hard rock production. This is somewhat at odds with Valis' not so surprising taste for loose, almost casual performances, and their unlikely union results in a quite unusual-sounding record. Monster Magnet may be the closest sonic parallel for the decidedly retro but quite diverse songs on display here, whether it's the dreamy psychedelic title track wafting lazily between your ears or the more spacy garage rock aesthetic of "Motorbike" (featuring token hard rock riff number two, it's been recycled so often) cruising down the highway of your mind. Generally sticking by these ground rules, ensuing tunes alternate between mellow (the lysergic wash of "Voyager" and a nearly straightforward rock ballad in "Across the Sky") and rockin' (the wah-wah-intensive "We Got a Situation" and the metallic-tinged "World of Decay") before the closing "Perpetual Motion Machine" embarks on a mission of deeper space exploration. Through it all, the songwriting is usually compelling but never groundbreaking and rarely outstanding, the performances competent but rather staid, and Conner's voice a little strained (suffice to say he's no Mark Lanegan) in an almost Ozzy-esque whine. But it works, so long as you keep an open mind and accept the fact that Valis' intentions are less than world-conquering. Ultimately, Conner is far too unassuming a character for one to condemn this release as a self-serving vanity project; rather, it's a good record by a group of guys happy to be playing rock & roll. (Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Everything about Tummler is "thick" - thick utterances from overdriven amplification; thick percussive blasts, hell, even Brad Buldak's trademark delivery is thick. A kinetic wall of huge sound. This is the kinda stuff where you stand away from the club's PA for fear of spontaneous peristalsis in the lower intestine. Hearing damage at the very least.

This is Tummler's second major release, pert near three years after the release of Queen to Bishop IV on Man's Ruin. And we all know what happened there. The signature Man's Ruin kitty ended balls up on a lonely San Fran street.

So God bless Small Stone for stepping up to plate and knocking one out of the park for the boys from Illinois. Early Man will not disappoint those that dug the rich n' heavy druggy space doom vibes emanating from Queen to Bishop IV. I'll tell ya right now that "Arlo" with it's Danzig-on-Percoset crush and "Planet Moai"'s epic long space funeral dirge have the makings of classics. While I liked "Here's to Your Destruction"'s decidedly upbeat instrumental sentiment than the rest of the album, it doesn't detract from the remainder. I just don't really like instrumentals that much. But that's my own trip. And we all know I have issues. It's great to have Tummler back in action. Early Man is an equal opportunity release. Stoner and Metal fans alike ought to embrace this one in equal measure. (Chris Barnes, Hellride Music)

Monday, June 23, 2008

"Stone Cold Boys ― a young stoner/psychedelic/southern/whatever band ―were born after the participants of another heavy team, StonerDeffect, broke up. Mr.Tazz (bass), who was the stoner ideologist inSD, and Mr.Big D (drums) continued jamming occasionally though, hopingto find new musicians to create a band based on Kyuss legacy. Aftershort period of time they were joined by Mr. LBAE (vocals) and, inearly October 2007, Mr.Vanish (guitar) and it was clear that they madea perfect match. As soon as the name appeared, the Boys started towork on various material. As all of them were, besides stoner bands,influenced by different music (from 60-s and 70-s classics like BlackSabbath, Led Zeppelin and old blues to Soundgarden, Mr.Bungle, early90-s hardcore teams and other) the songs they were producing differedfrom each other a lot, but they all had the same roots. In December2007 they were also joined by Maul, who became their manager soon.After a period of strange events like flood at one studio and powercollapse at the other, Stone Cold Boys managed to record a short demo."

It's quite a declaration that Raging Speedhorn singer Frank Regan states on the group's press release for the band's third release overall, How the Great Have Fallen. "If we weren't in Raging Speedhorn, we'd all be dead, in jail or blowing up buildings for a living." That said, you'd expect the group's 2005 release (its first to be issued in America) to be intense, heavy, and brutal. Check, check, and double check. If Black Sabbath specialized in speedier tempos, and had a hardcore barker out in front instead of Ozzy, you'd be close to the sound that Raging Speedhorn specializes in. The U.K. group has built quite a following in its native land, and as evidenced throughout How the Great Have Fallen, Raging Speedhorn should have no problem winning over the U.S. Headbanger's Ball set. The angst and venom doesn't let up through the album's ten tracks, especially with such song titles as "A Different Shade of Shit," "How Much Can a Man Take," "Fuck You Pay Me" (a famous line from Martin Scorsese's gangster classic Goodfellas), and "Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down." If you continuously wake up on the wrong side of the bed, How the Great Have Fallen is the album for you. (Greg Prato, AMG)

Track Listing:

01. A Different Shade Of Shit 02. Oh How The Great Have Fallen 03. Dead Man Walking 04. Master Of Disaster 05. Snatching Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory 06. How Much Can A Man Take 07. Fuck You! Pay Me! 08. Slay The Coward 09. The Infidel Is Dead 10. Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Here is another new band for you guys to check out. They are called Desert Stone and hail from Mexico City and will rock your ears off with their brand of fuzzed-out Stoner Rock.

"Formed in late 2006 in the biggest, craziest city in the world, Mexico City.

Desert Stone rises from the remains of other projects to concentrate on a single band, within the jurisdiction of Rock & Roll.

Attitude and will are synonyms of this band who resides in Mexico City. Influenced by decades of Rock & Roll history. From Radiohead’s subtlety and finesse to Cathedral’s ambiguity, abstraction and power. These are sounds that members of Desert Stone have had running through their veins their entire lives.

With their music, conceived as the amps are turned on (set in loud tones) and the drums get punished, this group of musicians tends to set their vision on the passion, power and groove delivered by a guitar riff. Desert Stone plays with energy and grace while staying true to the grail of Rock music."

Go to their MySpace page to hear some of their tunes and for further information about the band.

Hydra Head Records has kicked off the new year by unleashing the latest member of it’s mighty arsenal upon us: Zozobra, an exciting new creation of Caleb Scofield’s that already has people talking. Drawing influence from his earlier projects, the former Cave In / Old Man Gloom bassist immerses catchy rock tunes in a crushing layer of sludge-fuzz that will have fans of both licking their chops for more. With their first album, Harmonic Tremors, Zozobra creates a new harmony between styles and cuts out a surprisingly original niche for itself among the heavy music underground.

Relentless and skillfully crafted, Harmonic Tremors is a highly energized, massive force of an album that never once lets down its guard. Right from the get-go, it’s clear that Scofield isn’t here to mess around. The first couple tracks burst from the speakers and set the stage for the entire album, wielding brutal roars, buzzing riffs and pummeling rhythms. And that’s pretty much how things remain for the entire album, with occasional additions of cleaner, melodic vocals that provide a nice compliment to the album’s ferocity. Without a doubt, the entertainment factor of this album is superb—the tunes are catchy, the distortion is cranked to the max, and none of the tracks overstay their welcome—all of which contribute to a smile on your face at the end of it all.

Marking the first effort of Zozobra, Harmonic Tremors is a refreshing new addition to Scofield’s career. For anyone who’s listened to his previous bands, it’s nearly impossible not to recognize the incredible amount of influence they have on this album. Zozobra seems to represent a “middle-ground” area between the more conventional rock of Cave In and the ultra-abstract Old Man Gloom, and it’s a combination that works quite well. The instrumentation has a great deal of flavor and originality, but you won’t find any over-indulgent ambient soundscapes or complex experimentation on this album either. No, Harmonic Tremors is something altogether different—a deliberate and focused effort that creates a strikingly original brand of inspired heavy music. (Sean Butze, SonicFrontiers.net)

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Legendary Chicago doomsters TROUBLE have issued a lengthy press release regarding the cancellation of their previously announced announced July 11 Deep Rock Drive shows that were to be webcast on DeepRockDrive.com. You can read it at this location.

Before TROUBLE's management received notification that the July Deep Rock Drive shows were cancelled, TROUBLE and their management had set forth plans to release a live DVD this upcoming holiday season on their new label that was to include footage from the Deep Rock Drive webcast. The scheduled Deep Rock Drive event was to be the cornerstone of many upcoming plans for TROUBLE. TROUBLE's newly appointed U.S. manager Terry Svejda states, "TROUBLE had planned their whole U.S. 'Seal Your Doom' tour this summer around the Deep Rock Drive event. We were also planning on officially introducing the world to our new lead vocalist, Kory Clarke from WARRIOR SOUL, via Deep Rock Drive. We were promised the masters from the shoot for promotional use as well as for the DVD release."

Svejda adds, "We had fans from neighboring states traveling in to Vegas to come to the Deep Rock Drive show."

To replace its Deep Rock Drive event in Las Vegas, TROUBLE is booked July 11 at Puff, located at 1030 E. Flamingo Rd. in Las Vegas.

According to NME.com, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman Josh Homme has defended himself against accusations that he is a homophobe after an outburst at a show in Norway.

Homme had a fan pulled from the crowd after a bottle was thrown at him during their set at the Norwegian Wood festival in Oslo last week (June 13), and unleashed a torrent of abuse at the culprit — calling him a "chicken fucking f****t" and "a miserable fucking cunt."

The incident subsequently appeared in a YouTube clip (see below) and Homme yesterday responded to many blogger and media accusations of being a homophobe:

"Member of the Peanut Gallery: Some journalists and citizens on the Internet are wondering: Q? Am I a homophobe because I included a slang for gay in with other 'acceptable' curse words during a verbal lashing I gave a young concertgoer, after being hit by his shoe, during a show the other day? A= Nope. My gay family and friends, as well as myself, KNOW I am not a homophobe. For years now I've known gay is not a choice; one's skin color doesn't determine one's intelligence level; and red hair doesn't mean you're someone's stepchild. You see, it's not the words, it's their intent. I never said, nor suggested, that being gay is wrong, but apparently, based on your outrage to my flu-infused rant, you do! By that logic... I also told that young whipper snapper I'd have anal sex with him... how can I possibly reconcile these opposing viewpoints? I called him a pussy too. Does it mean I hate our one worlds' collective vagina? I never have been nor intend to be politically correct. That's your cross to bear. To me, that PC world would suck more shit than the porta-potty truck at Glastonbury. Homophobic? I'm in QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, for crissake... You say, 'So. Your band name doesn't prove anything.' Maybe not. But it's a helluva lot more definitive than the logic of some watchdog... (sorry canine-American, canine-European, canine-African, canine-Australian and canine-Asian) moralist, keeping score from pure perfectionville? If your glass house is squeegeed that clean and you need to do something, do what the great philosopher Bill Hicks once suggested — forgive me. Or don't. I'm not asking for either, OK? I think you should let both of your cheeks go loose so the stick will drop out. Either way I expect that you'll soon find another injustice from your chair, then roll to your bullhorn and point it out to the rest of us... Because you're so above it all. Or If you'll allow me to translate a wish of mine into your PC lingo: Will you please go have, consensual, sex with yourself. Pretty please with all natural, carbon offset sugar on top."

Born of the ashes of seminal Vancouver skate-thrash band S.T.R.E.E.T.S., BISON's riffs "are colossal and flow like a mighty river into a sea of fuzzed out shredding," according to a press release. "Their message is punk rock angst and revolution, with the occasional nod to white wizards, the king of swine and a mythical beast called the 'Stokasaurus'. Their debut album, 'Earthbound', captured their massive live sound on tape, garnering international recognition and a deal with Metal Blade Records."

BISON is currently recording its Metal Blade debut, "Quiet Earth", with Jesse Gander (3 INCHES OF BLOOD, SUBHUMANS, MASS GRAVE, S.T.R.E.E.T.S.) at The Hive Studios in Burnaby, BC for a fall 2008 release.

Here's what BISON has to say about its new deal with Metal Blade: "We are pleased that our newly forged alliance with the dark lords of the blade has come to fruition. We shall slay with honor and wasted servitude. Using the awesome power of the riff, we shall lay waste, in solidarity with the legions of the righteous soldiers of metal. Now as one, we look to the future to conquer for generations to come."

Added Metal Blade Records: "BISON has all the ingredients we look for in a successful band; strong work ethic, great live band, good support team and a sound straight out of a Bison stampeded, thundering and brutal."

MetalKult.com has just posted four new concert clips from BORIS. The footage was captured on March 4, 2008, when the Japanese doom-psych-drone trio played before an excited crowd at New York's Knitting Factory. The band was in town to support its latest release, "Smile".

"Smile" was released on April 29 via Southern Lord Recordings. The follow-up to 2005's "Pink" features contributions from previous collaborators such as Michio Kurihara and SUNN O)))'s Stephen O'Malley.

"Smile" is the second BORIS album to feature vocals on every track (the first, excluding any one-track albums, was "Amplifier Worship"). Also, it delves more into experimental tendencies with a more manipulated sound and even experiments with samples.

Chicago-based riff lords I Decline have reunited with all five original members and are rehearsing for live performances while conducting pre-production on a third record, yet to be titled.

The band went on hiatus after the departure of several replacement lead guitar players along with drummer, John "Dole" Doyle`s recruitment by famed Disturbed producer, Johnny K as an assistant and later lead engineer.

Now, six years later, the band has reformed with a rebirth of new and extremely complex catalog of new material that they are eager to put down on tape.

The band plans on making the most out of the skills Dole learned while working with Johnny K as well as other engineers/producers yet to be announced.

The band plans on releasing a record some time next year and will be performing live before the end of the year.

Riding high on the response to their newest self-titled, self-released album, Ohio`s Deadsea has hit the streets for some regional touring that will continue through the summer, with more dates to be announced as things progress.

Totimoshi, the Bay Area co-ed trio whose most recent album earned widespread accolades, including a 9/10 from Decibel Magazine and a spot on Alternative Press’ 100 Bands You Need To Know list, is set to release Milagrosa on July 8 via Volcom Entertainment with a national tour kicking off on Aug. 5.The 11-song album was produced by Helmet guitar player Page Hamilton and recorded by Toshi Kasai (Big Business, Melvins). The first single from the new album, “Sound The Horn,” can be previewed on the band’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/totimoshi.

The tour with Nebula is preceded by a hometown record release show on July 8 at 12 Galaxies where Totimoshi will be joined by friends Big Business.

Generated-X has just released Electric Magic - Vol. 3. The Electric Magic series are free compilations featuring a wide array of stoner, doom, and psychedelic bands. Electric Magic - Vol. 3 features new music from Siena Root, Leather Nun, Blowback, Beehover, Zed, Hollywood Conspiracy & The People Of Djibouti, Ostinato, Hypnopilot, End of Level Boss, Jet Jaguar, Voodooshock, Stinking Lizaveta, P.W. Long, and The Subcandies. It can be downloaded at www.generated-x.de.

In May of 2007, after appearances as Revelation at Doom or Be Doomed Festival in Baltimore, John Brenner, Steve Branagan, and Bert Hall, Jr. decided to revive Revelation and write new music.Leaf Hound Records re-released the Never Comes Silence CD in April 2007 and the Salvation`s Answer CD in November 2007, and will also release, on vinyl only, an unreleased LP Revelation recorded in 1988.

Leaf Hound Records also released Ogre`s new album, Plague of the Planet< and Blood Farmers` Blood Farmers, originally released on Hellhound Records in 1995, and now with a unreleased track. They have a plan to re-release Iron Man`s Black Night album on vinyl and Valkyrie`s Man of Two Visions in August 2008.

Modey Lemon is back on the road as of this week, hitting the USA hard for the first time in four years. The trio, Phil Boyd (guitar, vox), Jason Kirker (keyboards, bass), and Paul Quattrone (King Traps) are supporting their brand new album, Season of Sweets, on Birdman Records. Part full-blown garage shock, part epicly pounding krautrock, Season of Sweets provides the fodder for a stunning live show, as demonstrated at last years South By Southwest conference. Quattrone has just gotten off the road as substitute drummer with !!!.

"THE TALE OF THE CLAN MANGOO. One night, while relaxing in a hammock on my native coast, a three-headed god approached me in my herbal induced dreams and said: Ã¢€œArise Igor Bull-spawn, Shaman of the water bong, Warrior of the booming sound. You are to leave your pleasant life on this paradise island and travel far north to the land at the end of the earth, there in those frozen wastes you will you join an Ostrobotnian clan and together you will embark on a sacred quest.Ã¢€? His voice was low and it buzzed in my ears, it compelled me to obey; before I could ask anything of him, the god vanished from my mind as fast as he had appeared and I woke confused and distraught. A strange word was working its way from the back of my head to my mouth and many moons would pass before I had any meaning for me, nevertheless I raised my fists to the sky and shouted: PERKELE! Not a full cycle had passed when full of gifts from my tribe and armed only with my thunder axe I left for FINLAND. I also took with me some sacred herb seeds in case they didnÃ¢€™t grow in this cold lands. Upon arriving I wandered lost for many moons, the locals were very strange with pale skin, golden hair and eyes as light as the skies. I could not understand a word of their language, which sounded as harsh as their climate. I despaired in the long winter nights and began to wonder if the course of my quest was wise. But that all changed the night I met Pickles, a red-bearded follower of the path of fire, who acted most friendly towards me. Our cultural differences were quickly drowned in firewater and peace-smoke. I was happy to discover that not only did he possess a sacred axe too, but that it buzzed as low as the voice of God. From then on we were inseparable and together we had many adventures in the name of chaos. Drinking as much firewater and stealing as many maidens as we could find in every inn of this land. But we were not satisfied yet. The voice of God commanded us to find the rest of the chosen ones. In a strange moment of clarity Pickles decided to contact some warriors he had met as young in his native Ostrobotnia. They were both veteran warriors who had joined together during the Dead Flowers battle up north. The first warrior was Mattarn,,also known as Sir Mathias Ãƒ…kerlund, master of the shrieking axe. His element was Air. The second warrior was Jarno, also known as superbum a.k.a. The mad drummer savant. I needed only to hear his articulated paradoxical eloquence to know he was the man for the job. His element was earth. Now our group was almost complete but four doesn't make a coven. Something was missing. That something came in the form of Nikky, a mysterious goth technomage, who completed our sound by adding a layer of electro fuzz produced with many different magical boxes of obscure precedence. His element was chaos. Now the circle is complete. We are the clan, Warlocks and Warriors, the drunken freedomfigthers, joined together in a mystical quest to bring the creed of the buzzing god to as many ears as possible until chaos reigns supreme. We are MANGOO and we are invading your town soon. So all you WASTED GIRLS and drunken clan-members, prepare for the alkohol infused invasion of the drunken freedomfigthers!!!..."

This is the album, in my opinion that really established the band as the godfathers of Stoner Rock. When I first heard this album, I could not stop listening to it. I had listened to "Wretch" and "Blues For The Red Sun", but this album just took the genre to a whole new level, the "Stoner Rock Explosion" if you will. So with that being said, I am making "Welcome To Sky Valley" by Kyuss the Album Of The Day. If you do not own this album, shame on you. It is going to be the first CD I listen to in my new car stereo that I am getting installed today.

Review:

After creating a classic with their second album, Blues for the Red Sun, desert metal gods Kyuss faced the unenviable task of delivering the goods once again for a new label, Elektra Records. And they almost pulled it off with 1994's stellar Welcome to Sky Valley. The album's 13 songs are divided into three "suites" which fully display the band's impressive creative range, from furious metal to psychedelic grooves, and anything in between. The first and most consistent of these suites starts with the huge guitar riff of "Gardenia" (which resembles molten lava flowing down the side of a volcano), continues into the moody space jam instrumental "Asteroid," and culminates in the strangely titled yet superbly diverse "Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop." Other highlights include the solid thrashing of "100 Degrees," the prog rock instrumental "Whitewater," and the rather mellow (by Kyuss standards) "Demon Cleaner." But no song exemplifies the Kyuss sound as well as the aptly titled "Odyssey," which opens suite number three and provides a veritable blueprint of the band's unique combination of ingredients. The track begins with a cryptic melody, explodes into a ferocious riff, glides into a psychedelic bridge, then returns to full-throttle for its conclusion. (Ed Rivadavia, AMG)

Friday, June 20, 2008

Although they claim to be no mere "side project," it's hard to figure out just when Kalas members Matt Pike (of High on Fire and Sleep legend), Andy Branton (Econochrist), and Paul Kott (Cruevo) will find time away from their other musical concerns to, say, go on tour -- but then again, few side projects manage to deliver such a distinct-sounding and well-realized debut album as this one. Yes, Kalas clearly rely on the guiding footprints of Neurosis for inspiration (not surprising given their Bay Area origins), devising a similar sense of foreboding minor-key mystery with their songs' deep dynamic contrasts. Representative examples like "Monuments to Ruins," "Things Done and Undone," and "Mother's Tears" utilize mournful, gently plucked melodies to set up bone-crushing riffs (and vice versa) -- but then subtract any notion of Neurosis' industrial/electronic tendencies and shirk the mid-2000s obsession with epic song lengths in exchange for leaner songwriting. The resulting material is therefore not only far more organic in nature but, when coupled with the band's carefully thought-out arrangements, almost helps render these nine tracks into one fluid tapestry from start to finish, like movements of a single 50-minute piece of music. Also worth noting is that Pike only picks up his Les Paul for one number, the album highlight "Frozen Sun," elsewhere stepping out as band frontman for the first time in his career. Granted, he'll never be a Freddie Mercury, but longtime followers won't fail to recognize the unprecedented emotional range displayed by his unholy howls, nor the impressive caliber of his lyrics. These find him conjuring up wildly vivid fantasy imagery throughout -- even when tackling real-world issues like the war in Iraq ("Media Screws") and heroin addiction ("Pleasurable Prison") -- a feat most recently accomplished by the Hidden Hand's Wino, but not many others. Together with the evocative music that supports them, the lyrics help to imbue Kalas' debut with a surprisingly fresh musical outlook, so here's hoping this group really doesn't become a one-off side project. (Eduardo Rivadavia, AMG)

Maryland rockers CLUTCH have revealed the artwork for their new live DVD/CD, "Full Fathom Five". The set will be issued as a DVD and CD on August 12 via the band's own label, Weathermaker Music. The exact track listing will be announced soon.

Possibly the most restless member of the Jersey stoner rock community, bassist/singer Chris Kosnik had barely laid his prior band, the Atomic Bitchwax, to rest before returning to action in mid-2002 with new power trio, Black NASA. Yet, despite such historical proximity, the two groups are almost polar opposites when it comes to the ever-broadening stoner rock umbrella. This is because, while the Atomic Bitchwax seemed to serve primarily as a vehicle for guitarist Ed Mundell's incredible technical acrobatics, Black NASA is a much more groove-based, band-oriented project. Listeners expecting the former group's explosive brand of inspired showmanship will be terribly disappointed by what they hear here, but those more interested in the no-less-important art of band interplay will greatly enjoy this song-oriented set. Sounding rather like an East Coast Fu Manchu with a hankerin' for slide guitar (courtesy of capable six-stringer Duane Hutter), Black NASA patiently slides into gear, reaching an early high with the slow-burning "Hot Van" and the foot-stomping "Monkey Knife Fight" before launching into a full-fledged "Radar Love" tribute/piss-take of "Ribeye Love." With its discreet but insistent use of synthesizers and a start-stop chorus section, the very impressive "Cops" arguably qualifies as the album's best-realized composition, but subsequent first single "Diamond Girl" isn't far behind. And following the disc's only extended (and rather dull) space-out jam, closer "El Segundo" signs off for the evening with one of those classic, pacing, two-note AC/DC riffs one can't help but love. In the end, Black NASA is as difficult an album to warm up to as it is ultimately rewarding. ( Ed Rivadavia, AMG)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Album Of The Day is the newly re-issued "Let Us Prey" by Electric Wizard.

Review:

A band whose creative process has often been as lethargic as their drawn-out doom dirges, Electric Wizard surprised many fans when they announced the imminent release of their fourth album, Let Us Prey a mere year and a half after 2000s monolithic Dopethrone — itself preceded by nearly four years of silence. Probably for this very reason, Let Us Prey weighs in at a comparatively trim 45 minutes or so and makes for a significantly easier meal to digest than its epic predecessor; but it also falls short of Dopethrone in delivering what many consider to be the final word in doom metal. In fact, it appears that, having stuffed those four years of frustration into Dopethrone's perfectly colossal mass, the world's most doleful trio used Let Us Prey to take a concerted step back from the edge, and allow themselves the privilege to explore a few new directions. A good case in point, first track "A Chosen Few" immediately finds them scaling back their extreme volume and feedback in order to make room for added guitar textures; and second offering "We, the Undead" sees them stepping on the gas and embarking upon a manic thrash-out the likes of which they've rarely attempted (topped by ultra-distorted screaming from singer Jus Osborn). Both are also uncharacteristically short and to the point, but the two-part instrumental "Master of Alchemy: I. House of Whipchord/II. The Black Drug" is more familiar. At nearly ten minutes, it resurrects the vintage, head nodding Wizard of old, and may just qualify as the greatest incidental horror movie soundtrack ever committed to tape. Sadly, its also the album's last unquestionable winner, as subsequent stoner epics "The Outsider" and "Priestess of Mars," while still offering plenty of doom for your buck, start to sound somewhat automatic and recycled. Also, separating the two is an eyebrow-raising anomaly called "Night of the Shape" consisting of piano and saxophone mood music (shock!) splayed out over a nearly electronic drumbeat. Ultimately, Let Us Prey's riskier experiments and occasional inconsistencies, however small, are bound to disappoint Electric Wizard fanatics accustomed to magnum opus after magnum opus; but the fact of the matter is that it still leaves most competitors coughing in the band's pot smoke. (Ed Rivadavia, AMG)

SUNN 0)))'s seventh studio album is still in the incubation stages. Preliminary tracks have been recorded in Seattle, Washington with Randall Dunn (ALTAR ALBUM, EARTH, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM). Beyond the core duo of Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson, the CD features appearances by Attila Csihar (MAYHEM) and Oren Ambarchi. Renowned violinist (among other instruments) Eyvind Kang has also collaborated with SUNN 0))) on this album. Eyvind has been adding string and horn orchestration to the wicked sonic brew. The material is as diverse as ever, traversing new directions, yet grounded in the behemoth foundation of yore.

In other news, SUNN 0))) will release a double-vinyl-only live album later this summer entitled "Dømkirke". The recording is from a very special live performance by SUNN 0))) in a cathedral in Bergen, Norway. The Borealis festival commissioned a piece of music referring to the gothic Gregorian hymns of the late Middle Ages; hymns that flourished within the Bergen Cathedral in its earliest years. The building was built around 1180 in the age of the Great Famine and The Black Plague. The Gregorian hymns of this time reflected the despair, the terrors and darkness of the world, and consisted of long slow lines of unison melodies. The style, the dark mood and the slow melodic development are all elements that also can be traced back to SUNN 0)))'s musical universe. These parallels between SUNN 0))) and the medieval times gave birth to this commission. The SUNN 0))) core duo of Stephen O' Malley and Greg Anderson was joined by Attila Csihar (MAYHEM) on vocals, Steve Moore (EARTH, ASCEND, STEBMO) on organ, Lasse Marhog (JAZZKAMMER) on electronics, and T.O.S. on keyboards. Each LP side contains one singular piece:

Like last year's "Oracle" LP release by SUNN 0))), this 180-gram heavyweight vinyl will be packaged in a super-deluxe gatefold jacket with printed inner sleeves featuring stunning photographs of the performance.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Legendary Chicago doomsters TROUBLE have issued the following statement:

"The Deep Rock Drive show scheduled for July 11th that was to be webcast on DeepRockDrive.com has been cancelled by Deep Rock Drive. The band will be making an official statement on this show's cancellation later in the week. We are working on having a TROUBLE show at another venue on July 11th in Las Vegas, NV. Deep Rock Drive has informed us that all tickets sold will be fully refunded. We will inform everyone as soon as the new show has been scheduled."

As scenes subdivide beyond recognition, calling Trees' debut release metal is both perfectly accurate and also limited. Anybody who loved Gravity Records at its height in the mid-'90s will probably find as much to love here as do fans of sludge monsters and whatever the heck "stoner rock" is meant to signify now, not to mention hordes of classic indie level metal from the '80s and beyond -- the larger point being that Trees are plenty loud, given to anguished screams, and think nothing of putting the figure of a beautiful woman that's mostly a rotten skeleton on their album cover. Lights Bane consists of two long tracks clocking in at around a quarter of an hour each, and both move with the slow, deliberate pace that early Black Sabbath blue printed, but L. Smith's distanced, heavily echoed explosive screeches would have disturbed even young Ozzy. Both "Nothing" and "Black" feel likes two parts of a larger whole -- the division between the two is so quick that it's easy to blink and miss it -- but they do have their differences, with the latter having a high point in the sudden, shuddering grind and drum roll about seven minutes in while Smith's voice turns into a barely heard, guttural rasp and gurgle. It's a good start at the least, but there's still some way to go before Trees fully find their own sound. (Ned Raggett, AMG)

Monday, June 16, 2008

Baby Woodrose "Let Yourself Go" Limited Edition 7"Formed by frontman Lorenzo in late 2001, Baby Woodrose started out as a side project to the psychedelic stoner group, On Trial, who since the early 90`s released intoxicating drug-induced rock music that turned its users into sheer liquid.

One album on Germany`s SPV label and several for the UK based Delerium/Molten Records saw the band tour vigorously in Europe, but one day Lorenzo got tired of sitting behind the drums, so he embarked on a solo project he decided to call Baby Woodrose (named after the Hawaiian flower).

Lorenzo, playing all the instruments himself, recorded 15 songs in less than a week and released the album on his own label. Four years later, Baby Woodrose, now a trio, have released numerous 7" singles and four full lengths (one of which is a live album and one a full cover/tribute album) on the independent label, Bad Afro Records.

In 2004, Baby Woodrose was nominated for a Danish Music Award (didn’t win it!) but they went on to win Danish National Radio’s most-sought-after Award, The P3 Gold Award. They toured Europe on numerous occasions, among these a much talked about appearance on Roskilde Festival’s main stage, a “not so good” drug bust in Norway and various collaborations with some of Scandinavia’s most recognized rock bands.

Now in 2008, the trio has released their most ambitious effort yet, the album Chasing Rainbows, once again on the mighty Bad Afro Records.

"It`s obvious that we`ve got a lot more technical experience now. Chasing Rainbows is the sound of a band with much more musical guts, clearly inspired by the Dragontears project we did last year. The sound is very fresh and different compared to other things we`ve done, pretty poppy and commercial, but it`s also the most experimental and druggy thing we`ve done at the same time.

"There is definitely a new feel to the Baby Woodrose sound which is also underlined by the use of instruments like cello, lap-steel, flute and tablas. The lyrics mostly deal with feeling misplaced, longing for love and searching for truth and light as a way out of the darkness.

Least we can say at the Longfellow Deeds HQ is that we were quite delighted and honored to be proposed by Bad Afro to release a limited edition 7" featuring one song from Chasing Rainbows backed with an unreleased track.

Here`s Lorenzo comments on "Good Day to Die," which is the b-side of the Longfellow Deeds 7" release:

"I`m currently sitting on the couch in the cozy womb of Black Tornado Studio with a cup of coffee, a cigarette, and a laptop. I`m listening to the final mastering of six outtakes from the Chasing Rainbows sessions that we`ve mixed recently and they`re sounding fucking great! A few of them have HIT written all over them, others are just kickass punk rock songs not unlike stuff we`ve done before, but just as good or better. We`ve planned releasing all of these tracks as B-sides and split singles on various labels from around the world during the next months after Chasing Rainbows is out. Right now I`m as excited about these tracks as I am about the album itself, so I`m sorry if I`m being an arrogant hard ass about it, but that`s just how I feel.

"`A Good Day to Die` is a fast punk song with world-weary lyrics. Again there`s a pumping Stooges type piano and a classic sounding guitar riff. Fuzz Daddy loves his hi-hat closed in the verses. This is one tough motherfucker of a B-side, it just doesn`t get much more punk than this: `I`ve had the same reoccurring dream like a thousand times, a dark shadow with a forty-four takes me down from behind and today is a good day to die...`"

Black RainbowsA lot of Black Rainbows songs are like movies. Tight, evocative movies that expand in the mind far beyond the few minutes they take to play. Formed two years ago in Rome by ex Void Generator and Khang members, the power trio is equally inspired by the Italian and American psychedelic tradition and delivers an album as powerful as Kyuss and Lowrider ones. A subtle cocktail of blues, psychedelic and high-energy rock n roll.

Their first album, Twilight in The Desert, was released in France last September to great reviews and feedback, really cool to hear that their hypnotic and spacey psychedelic groove. It will be released in Italy on May 19.

The band has been playing a lot of gigs these last few months (such as opening for Dead Meadow in Rome) and will play some more in the coming weeks. Some festivals are confirmed as well.

July 11: Stoned from the Underground Festival, with Witchcraft and El-ThuleJuly 19: Staffolo, AN - Bibes from Hill, Paul Cat and The Translate, Alien Sun, Vortice Cremisi, Lleroy, Colossal Monument

Medicine Ball Caravan Releasing First Full-length AlbumFirst impulsion was given by Matt M. (former Low Vibes and Caldera singer) who wanted to get back to his roots and form a heavy rock band, again. His friend Jay (a Berklee graduate drummer who`s also playing with Jeff Brodnax, former 24-7 Spyz member), felt the same way so ... Good fortune made them cross ways with Rod (guitar) and Thom (bass).

Things went fast. "New Girl in Town" was written during the first meeting of the band and received great feedbacks on the internet with a recording made during their second rehearsal. The first stone was cast, a wall of sound ready to be built.

Eight months later, their debut album, Crossing the Seas ... Spreading the Sins, was recorded. It includes nine originals and the heavy rock classic "Call of the Wild" from the New York City rockers Circus of Power. With this LP, the band shows its respect to its roots (Circus of Power, Aeromsith, Hanoi Rocks), and its ability to write catchy and "in your face" tunes.

Speaking of Circus Of Power, Medicine Ball Caravan will appear on a COP tribute album to be released in July 2008.

June 11: Paris, France - O`Sullivans By The Mill, with Thunder Express

Rite`s New Album Recorded, Mixed, and MasteredFinnish quintet Rite is back on tracks with its third album, tentatively titled Death I Hear You Calling, but I Can`t Come Home Right Now. Expected release date is October 6 2008.